Leader, Human Resources

Position Summary

The Plant Human Resources Leader will lead end-to-end HR for a manufacturing site of approximately 50 salaried and 300 hourly non-union employees. This role is the primary HR business partner to the Plant Leadership Team and drives a strong employee relations culture, legal compliance, talent acquisition, and consistent application of company and global (German HQ) HR standards. The role requires a high floor presence, strong judgment, and the ability to coach leaders in a fast-paced operational setting.

Essential Functions

• A. Employee Relations & Leadership Coaching (Core)
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters, including investigations, corrective action, performance management, conflict resolution, and employee engagement.
• Coach plant leaders and frontline supervisors on consistent application of policies, documentation standards, and effective communication.
• Maintain a positive employee relations environment to support a union-free workplace through proactive engagement, consistent practices, and rapid issue resolution.
• B. Staffing, Recruiting & Workforce Planning
• Own hourly recruiting strategy and execution (high-volume recruiting, onboarding, retention actions); partnering with TA and shared services.
• Support salaried recruiting and selection; ensure strong hiring manager capability and compliant processes.
• Drive workforce planning: headcount, shift coverage, overtime/attendance patterns, and critical skill pipelines.
• C. Compliance, Policy & Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with federal/state employment requirements and company policies across wage/hour, leave, accommodations, and employee documentation.
• Maintain audit-ready employee files, accurate HRIS data, and disciplined case management practices.
• Partner with Safety/EHS and Operations on incident response, workers’ comp coordination, and safety culture.
• D. Talent, Performance & Development
• Lead performance management, feedback, coaching routines, and talent review support for salaried and hourly leadership roles.
• Implement leadership and supervisor development initiatives focused on front-line effectiveness.
• E. Compensation & Total Rewards Support
• Administer plant compensation practices (hourly wage structures, shift premiums, differentials, attendance programs if applicable) in alignment with corporate guidelines.
• Support annual compensation planning cycles and short-term incentive processes.
• F. Culture, Engagement & Change Leadership
• Lead engagement actions and communications; create simple mechanisms for employee voice and continuous improvement.
• Execute plant change management for organizational changes, policy rollouts, and global initiatives.

Qualifications (Required)

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related discipline and 5+ years HR experience with significant time in manufacturing / industrial / high-volume environments or Associates degree and 7+ years HR experience with significant time in manufacturing/ industrial / high-volume environments
• Demonstrated expertise in employee relations, investigations, performance management, and supervisor coaching.
• Working knowledge of U.S. employment fundamentals (wage/hour, leave, accommodation processes, documentation standards).
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence in an operational setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• HR certification (PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SCP).
• Experience in automotive, Tier 1 supplier, industrial manufacturing, or multi-shift operations.
• Experience working within a global organization and matrix reporting structures.

Position Requirements

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Pay Range

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in Bowling Green, KY is $89,900–$134,900 per year. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within the job, the type of years and experience within the industry and education. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect positions that work in other states or locations.

Benefits

• Group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and disability insurance.
• 401k plan.
• 120 hours of vacation leave and 40 hours of Personal Paid Absence every year.
• 12 paid holidays, and 1 floating holiday throughout the calendar year, subject to relevant terms outlined in the employee handbook.
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave will also be available for use.

Application Information

Please note: At this time, we are not able to offer immigration sponsorship for new hires. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Employer

EOE-Disability/Veterans